Jornal de Alcoolismo e Dependência de Drogas
Acesso livre

Abstrato

Alcohol, It’s Effect on Dental Structures and the Role of a Dentist.

Rachappa Mallikarjuna and Triveni Nalawade

The first recognized and the most devastating effect of alcohol was the consequence of maternal ingestion of alcohol during pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a distinct condition associated with maternal alcoholism which causes serious birth defects in children due to disruption of normal embryonic development. Other problems that can occur are weak muscles around the mouth that make it difficult to consume food; unusual taste preferences for salty or spicy food at an inappropriate age; gross caries at a young age; prolonged and excessive drooling; weak buccinators muscles that prevent the proper placement of food for chewing. These are a few amongst the many problems which children diagnosed with FAS have to face thus increasing their predilection for caries and require special oral health care. Also, there are other direct and indirect effects of alcohol consumption on dental structures of which a few to be mentioned are dental erosion, attrition sometimes along with behavioral problems.